[Fat Charlie]

I didn't get a check from W, but I did see the "only helps you when you file" bump. The IRS' guidance was for companies to reduce witholding to match the change. If your company didn't reduce witholding, you'd simply see a larger return when you filed. If they did, you saw a bit extra in each paycheck. I'm going to guess the checks were sent to people who made little enough that the result would have been a check anyway.

Giving money directly to the poor is the best way to get money flowing in the economy. People with more money would throw it at savings or debt instead of buying things with it.